Illuminating device



Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 10 Claims.

My invention relates to illuminating devices,

and has among its objects the provision of a support for an electric lamp providing both a wiring conduit for the leads to the lamp and a reflector for the. lamp.

The invention will be best understood from 20 Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a fragment of the illuminating device according to Figs. 1 and 2,-

with parts omitt eda Fig. 4 is a fragment, on an enlarged scale of the illuminating device shown by Fig. 1 and cor- 25 responds to a section on the lines l-l of Figs.

2 and 3;

Fig. 5 illustrates a "detail, on an enlarged scale;

.. Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the lamp socket and wiring base;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the spring clip of the wiring base;

Fig. 10 is a plan of the clip according to Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation'of the end portion of the lamp;

Fig. 12 is an end view of the lamp according to Fig. 11;

Figs. 13 and 14 are respectively an elevation 40 and edge view of an end cover plate for the reflector and wiring conduit;

Fig. 15 is a schematic wiring diagram;

Figs. 16, 17, 18, 19, and 21 illustrate modified forms of the invention;

Fig. 22 is a side elevation of a fragment of the device according to Fig. 18; and

Fig. 23 is a side elevation of a fragment of the device according to Fig. 21.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 15, the support for the lamp comprises a base portion in the form of an elongated channel-shaped extrusion having a web I and side flanges 3, this extrusion being adapted to be secured to a wall, 55 ceiling, or other support S by suitable fastening members F, such as nails, extending through suitably formed openings in the web.

As illustrated, the web of this extrusion is formed on its inner side with a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending ribs S-and I, on the 5 edges of which are adapted to rest the bottom surfaces of the'base portions 9 of wiring bases for lamps L. These wiring bases preferably extend from one flange 3 to the other of the extrusion. The spaces between the two ribs 5 and 10 I, and between each of these and the adjacent flange 3 form. channels or grooves for receiving ,the lead wiresW for energizing the lamps and for receiving such auxiliary lead wires W as it may be desired to conduct,'which}lead wires W may 1 be used for 'a' different group of lamps than those energized by the-lead wires 'W. i

The wiring bases are best shown .by Fig 6 to 10 inclusive. Each wiring base has a body formed of insulating material, and'compri'ses a projecting portion ll extending from the base portion 9 at one side thereof. The entire body is hollowed out to provide a cavity l3 having an opening l5 at the end of the projecting portion II. In the cavity [3 is a metallic member compri ing a pair of spring clips I! formed integrallywith the base I9, which base includes a projection 2| secured by a tubular rivet 23 to a cover 25 of insulating material for the bottom opening of the cavity of the wiring base. The opening of the tubular rivet 23 is screw-threaded for receiving a screw 21 for connecting the lead wires electrically to the spring clips H. The covers. 25 are secured to the body of the wiring base by tubular rivets 29. 35

The lamps L, which are carried by the wiring bases, have elongated tubular bulbs, each bulb at opposite ends thereof carrying a terminal cap 3| (Fig. 11) having an inwardly flaring socket 33. The filaments (not'shown) of the lamps extend lengthwise of the bulbs from one terminal cap 3| to the other. This construction of the lamp being well known need not be further described.

For supporting the lamps on the wiring bases, there is associated with each pair of spring clips I! a lamp socket comprising a shallow cup 35, of insulating material, having side walls 31. Interiorly of this cup is a metal plate 39 having at its edges teeth 4| which are snapped under the bead 43 carried by the interior surfaces of the side walls 31 of the cup. The center portion of the plate is struck up to form a split resilient stud having the prongs 45, this stud being adapted to snap into the socket 33 in the terminal caps of the lamps, the arrangement being closely like that of "the ordinary snap fastener. The plate 39 is further shaped to form a projection 41 which extends through an opening 49 in the side walls 31' of the cup II. This projection,

for giving it rigidity, is formed with marginal walls 9|, the end of the projection being rounded so that it may readily be snapped between the spring clips Il. As illustrated, the spring clips have hooked ends 53. while the projection 41 is formed to provide notched portions into which the hooked ends of the clips snap, so that the projections 41 of the lamp'sockets cannot be withdrawn after they are snapped between the clips.

The lamp socket and wiring base, with the exception of the last mentioned feature involving the notches l5 and the hooked ends 59 of the spring clips, is well known and need not be further described. It will be observed however from Fig. '7 that, as shown, the overall thickness of the projection 41 of the lamp socket is of less width than the corresponding width of the hollowed out portion of the projection ll of the wiring base, and that this construction permits the lamp socket's to be slightly tilted or slid from right to left, as viewed in Fig. '7, to enable the split studs of the lamp sockets to be snapped into the sockets 99 of the terminal caps of the lamps when the wiring bases are assembled with the device, as will hereinafter ,be more fully described.

The flanges 3 of the base extrusion, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, have thickened lower edge portions, 51 provided with longitudinally extending grooves 59. Into these grooves fit the upper edge portions of the side walls GI of the combined wiring-base retaining and reflecting members, which latter are also in the form of elongated extrusions. Preferably both extrusions are made of aluminum, or high content aluminum alloy, such as duralium", having the relatively soft properties of aluminum. Preferably the side walls of the grooves 59 are formed with longitudinally exte'nding grooves 63 to provide one or more raised surfaces 65 which contact with the sides of the edge portions of the walls 6!, and the metal of these parts, being soft, galls when the parts are forced together, this affording sufficient friction to prevent separation of the parts except when they tend to be separated with tion 9 of the wiring base to hold it against the ribs 5 and I. The adjacent edges of the arcuate portions of the extrusions are notched to form openings H (Fig. 3) through which the projecting portions ll of the wiring bases extend. Conveniently, the arcuate portions 61 of the extrusions are formed on their upper surfaces with longitudinally extending grooves 13 of V-shaped cross-section, as illustrated in Fig. 2; and by sawing inward with a hack-saw from the edges of the arcuate portions to these grooves the parts between the saw cuts may be readily broken off at the V-shaped grooves to form the notches which, when the arcuate portions are placed toened portion II which is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 11 the upper portion of which is inclined outwardly, as indicated at II, toopen on the exterior of the side walls. If

desired, communicating with the grooves Tl may be provided holes II for the purpose of ventilating the interior of the conduit formed by the extrusions.

In the assembled device the wiring-bases may be placed back to back to provide for supporting a plurality of axially aligned lamps. Before assembling the extrusions the lead wires W are connected to the terminal screws 21 in the manner indicated in Fig. 15.

If desired, the ends of the assembled extrusions may be closed by plates '9 (Figs. 1, l3 and 14), these plates having screw holes so positioned that the shanks of the screws inserted through them will enter the open ends of the grooves I1. The material of the extrusion bein soft, the screws will self tap into the side walls of the groove.

Various modifications of the invention heretofore described may be made. When the lamps are to be placedv at an interior corner the arrangement shown by Figs. 16 or 19 may be employed. When placed at an exterior corner the arrangement shown by Fig. 17 may be employed, and when placed on the side of a wall the arrangement shown by Fig. 20 may be employed. All these arrangements employ the same base extrusion hereinbefore described, and the reflector members are secured to that extrusion in the same way.

Referring to Fig. 16, the extrusions which retain the wiring-bases and form the reflector, as heretofore described, may be made in two parts. As shown, the side wall 96 of the right hand extrusion does not extend below the reflector portion 61, while the side wall 99 of the left hand extrusion has an arcuate extension 91 at its lower end, so that these right and left band members together form a reflector which will reflect light at an angle downwardly from the vertical wall of the Su port.

Referring particularly to Fig. 19, the rib I of the base extrusion is formed with a longitudinally extending groove 99 opening on the outer surface of the web I of that extrusion, the opposite walls of which groove are formed with one or more of the longitudinally extendinggrooves 69 illustrated in Fig. 5. Into this groove 99 is forced the and edge of a vertical web 9| of a bracket member which has the portions 99 and 9! fitting the interior comer of the supporting structure and secured thereto. This bracket member may be "formed of short lengths of an extrusion of the same metal as the other extrusions, it being understood that a plurality of bracket members will be distributed along the conduit formed by the other extrusions. In the modification shown by Fig. 19, the side walls 9| of the reflector extrusions do not extend below the arcuate portions 61, both of these extrusions being like the right hand reflector extrusion of Fig. 16.

In the modification shown by Fig. 17 the base extrusion is secured to the support by means of an elongated extrusion having the side walls 91. This extrusion, as shown, is formed with a web 99 integral with the side walls. The web is so formed as to provide a Vshaped notch Ifll which engages the comer of the support and is also so formed as to provide a downwardly extending rib I 03 which enters the longitudinally extending groove 89 in the web I of the base extrusion, which web I rests against the lower edgesof the side walls 91. In this way, due to the galling action between the side walls of the groove 89 and the rib I03, the parts are held securely in assembled relation. It will be observed that the reflector members as well as the base member of this modification are like those of the modification shown by Fig. 19.

Referring to Fig. 20, the base and reflector portions of the device are like those shown by Fig. 16. The conduit and reflector are held to the support by angle-shaped brackets each of which has a horizontal leg I05 and a vertical leg I 01, the latter of which is secured to the supports. At the end of the leg IDS is a downwardly extending flat tab I09 which enters the longitudinally extending groove 89 in the base member so that the parts are held in assembled relation. It will be understood that the brackets having the tabs I09 may be cut as short lengths from long extrusions made of the same metal as the other extrusions. It will be observed that other than in respect to the supporting bracket the device according to Fig. 20 is like that shown by Fig. 16.

The arrangement shown by Fig. 18 is similar to that shown by Fig. 2, except that provision is made for an auxiliary reflector. This auxiliary reflector, as'shown, comprises an extrusion having the arcuate portions III which are joined by a thickened portion H3 having a longitudinally extending groove H5 on its upper side, the

opposite walls of this groove each being formed with one or more longitudinally extending grooves 63, illustrated in Fig. 5. The auxiliary reflector is held to the end portions of the side walls SI of the main reflector by Y-shaped brackets Ill, the upper edges of the legs of which brackets are formed with thickened portions I I9 having longitudinally extending grooves |2l opening on their upper sides, each of these grooves I 2| having grooved side walls like those heretofore described. The lower edges of the side walls SI of the main reflector are received in these grooves IN and frictionally retained therein. The stem portions I23 of the Y-shaped brackets similarly flt into the groove 5 so that the brackets will be firmly frictionally secured to the auxiliary reflector. It will be understood that these V-shaped brackets may be cut as short lengths from long extrusions of the some metal as the other extrusions.

Figs. 21 and 23 show the manner in which the auxiliary reflector may be connected to a device having reflector portions like that shown by Figs. 2 and 17. In this arrangement the brackets secured to the auxiliary reflector have vertical webs I24 carried by horizontal portions I25. At the ends of the horizontal portions are upwardly extending inclined portions I21 provided with hooked ends I29 of the shape shown in Fig. 21, so as to conform to the exterior surfaces of the side walls 69 of the reflector extrusions and flt into the grooves TI and I9 of said side walls. The brackets for securing the auxiliary reflector, like the Y-shaped brackets of Figs. 18 and 22, may be formed of short lengths sawed from an elongated extrusion of the same metal as the other extrusions.

It will thus be observed that the several extrusions described may be assembled to fit a variety of uses, in all cases the parts being secured by a friction fit. Preferably all the extrusions are formed of soft metal, as described, but, if desired, only one of each pair of extrusions having a friction tongue and groove fit need be formed of such metal. The grooves ll, 19, as illustrated,

scribed without departing from the are not provided with grooved side walls as are the grooves 59, 89, I2! and I23, but they may be so formed if desired.

. It will be understood that within the scope of the appended claims wide deviations may be made from the forms of the invention above despirit of the invention.

I claim.

l. A device of the character described having an elongated base member of channel-shaped cross-section adapted to contain a lamp wiring base, a combined cover and reflector part having an opening for a projecting, lamp-supporting, lamp-contact-carrying part carried by such wiring base, said cover and reflectorpart being formed of two longitudinally extending portions having closely adjacent edgesintermediatethe width of said base member, which, portions are independently carried by said base member adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof, whereby reflectors of different shape may be had by substituting for one or the other of said portions of said cover and reflector part a different portion of changed shape.

2. A device of the character described having an elongated basemember of channel-shaped thereof for forming said opening of said cover.

3. A device of the character described having an elongated base member of channel-shaped cross-section adapted to contain a lamp wiring base, a cover for the channel opening of said base member, which cover has an opening for a projecting, lamp-supporting, lamp-contactcarrying part carried by said wiring base, said cover being formed of two longitudinally extending parts separately carried by said base member adjacent the opposite edges thereof, respectively, which parts have closely adjacent longitudinally extending edges intermediate the width of said base member, at least one of said cover parts being'notched at such edge thereof for forming said opening of said cover, which cover part'has a longitudinally extending portion of line-like width back of said edge providing a frangible line, whereby said notch may be formed by making spaced cuts in said part from said edge back to said line and breaking off at said .line the metal between said cuts.

arately carried by said base member adjacent the opposite edges thereof,'respectively, which parts have closely adjacent longitudinally extending edges intermediate the width of said base member, said cover parts having complementary notches at said edges thereof forming said opening of saidcover, which cover parts have longitudinally extending V-shaped grooves back of said edges providing irangible lines, whereby said notches may be formed by making spaced cuts in said parts from said edges back to said lines and breaking off at said lines the metal between said cuts.

5. A device of the character described having an elongated base of channel-shaped cross-section, a cover secured to said base for, closing the channel opening thereof, which channel is adapted to contain lamp wiring bases andthe wiring therefor, and which cover has openings for projeeting, lamp-supporting, lamp-contact-carrying parts carried by said wiring bases, said base being formed with a longitudinally extending groove opening on the exterior thereof, and a support for said base adapted to be secured to a wall or the like having a tongue adapted to enter said groove and be irictionally retained therein.

6. A device of the character described having an elongated base member of channel-shaped cross-section to provide a web and opposite flanges, the interior side of said web being formed with spaced longitudinally extending raised ribs, a wiring base having a binding terminal at its under side, the latter being adapted to rest on said ribs with the binding terminal between said ribs, and means engaging said wiring base for holding it against said ribs'comprising a combined reflector and cover part carried by said flanges, which part and flanges are provided with cooperating'tongues and grooves directed toward said web whereby said part may be irictionally secured to said flanges by movement '01 said part toward said wiring base.

7. A device of the character described having an elongated base member of channel-shaped cross-section to provide a web and opposite flanges, the interior side of said web being formed with spaced longitudinally extending raised ribs, a wiring base having a bindingterminal at its under side, the latter being adapted to rest on said ribs with the binding terminal between said ribs and with the opposite sides of the wiring base coacting with the opposite flanges of said base member for preventing transverse shittin being constructed to engage with the side 'of the of said wiring base, and meansengaging said wiring base for holding it against said ribs comprising a combined reflector and cover part carried by said flanges, which part and flanges are provided with cooperating tongues and grooves di- 5 rected toward said web whereby said part may be frictionally secured to said flanges by movement oi said part toward said wiring base.

8. A device of the character described having a longitudinally extending base member of channel-shaped cross-section to provide a web and opposite flanges, a lamp wiring base adapted to be received within the channel of said base member and operatively to rest upon the interior surface of said web, the outer edges of said flanges carrying separate parts, respectively, which parts cooperate to form a reflector and a cover for the channel opening of said base member, each flange and said part carried thereby being formed one with a groove and the other with a tongue frictionally received by such groove whereby the parts may be assembled with the flanges by pressing the parts directly toward the base member, at least one 01' said parts carried by said flanges wiring base opposite said web.

9.In a device of the character described, a longitudinally extending base part of channelshaped cross-section, a longitudinally extending cover part for closing the channel opening of 30 said base part, one of said parts having a lateral wall provided with ventilating openings and being formed with a longitudinally extending flange opposed to said openings in spaced relation to said lateral wall. 1

10. In a device of the character described, a longitudinally extending base part of channelshaped cross-section, a longitudinally extending cover part for closing the channel opening oi said base part, one of said parts having a lateral wall and being formed with a longitudinally extending to upwardly projecting flange in spaced relation to said wall to provide an upwardly opening groove, a reflector below said cover part, and meansfor suspending said reflector having a hooked portion received by saidgroove.

RUSSELL L. HOHL. 

